Police in Pennsylvania identified a suspect in an unsolved murder using DNA from a discarded cigarette butt and a bitten-off styrofoam cup, police said Monday.
Berks County District Attorney John Adams informed reporters that Vallis Slaughter, 39, was arrested last week for the 2012 killing of Julio Torres, 34, in a West Reading diner parking lot northwest of Philadelphia.
Court documents show Slaughter was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and conspiracy. On March 24, 2012, Vallis Slaughter was found with a styrofoam cup using DNA match technology.
Adams claimed an argument preceded the March 24, 2012, shooting, but it was unclear what else caused it. “To date we have never determined what the motive was for this shooting, other than some senseless dispute,” Adams added. Adams said Case did not name Slaughter as a suspect and DNA from the styrofoam cup found at the crime site a decade ago did not match anyone in CODIS, the law enforcement database of convicted offenders.
Adams said investigators removed a photo from “an alleged associate” of the suspected shooter's cell phone last year after reexamining the case. Adams claimed the individual in the photo was Slaughter using facial recognition software.
Adams said investigators monitoring Slaughter in Jersey City found a smoldering cigarette butt he threw to the ground before entering the relative's home in February. Adams said the cigarette and styrofoam cup DNA profiles matched.
Last Wednesday, Slaughter was arrested. Adams said he is being jailed without bail in New Jersey awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
Slaughter's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Adams claimed a Brooklyn homicide may involve Slaughter. He did not elaborate on the alleged crime, and a New York Police Department representative did not react.
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